Cambodia and Laos Tour

Request
a Quote

All ABOUTAsia tours feature crowd avoidance routes to ensure you experience the best of the country, and our own special "spice notes"...

Itinerary
Details

Hotel
Options

Similar
Itineraries

Tailor
Make

Tour Summary

Visit the stand-out highlights of Cambodia and Laos - Angkor Wat and the monuments of the Angkor Archaeological Park that surround it, and the unspoiled old town of Luang Prabang on the banks of the Mekong.

Day 1	Arrive in Siem Reap; begin touring at Banteay Kdei before a relaxing sunset drink
Day 2	Photograph the iconic temples of Bayon and Ta Prohm, & the city of Angkor Thom
Day 3	Enjoy the sunrise at majestic Angkor Wat, later visiting exquisite Banteay Srei temple and Banteay Samre
Day 4	Visit the stilted fishing villages of the Tonle Sap Lake and explore the beautiful ruins of Beng Mealea
Day 5	Road transfer to Phnom Penh, taking in the towns and countryside of Cambodia
Day 6	Take in the tragedy of the Khmer Rouge and the grandeur of the Royal Palace
Day 7	Discover the markets and galleries of Phnom Penh before taking your flight to Vientiane
Day 8	Discover the landmarks of Vientiane, including Wat Sisaket, Wat Phra Keo and the iconic That Luang stupa
Day 9	A relaxed morning before taking your flight to Luang Prabang, where you will be welcomed with a traditional Baci Ceremony
Day 10	Rise with the sun to witness monks at their morning alms-gathering, exploring the morning markets and pagodas of the town before visitng Khouangsi falls
Day 11	Take a boat trip along the Mekong to Pak Ou, visiting villages and shrines along the way, ending with sunset from Mount Phousi
Day 12	Take an elephant trek through the countryside outside of Luang Prabang, along the Nam Khan river
Day 13	A relaxed morning before your departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Siem Reap

Morning:
We meet you from your flight with a private transfer to your chosen hotel. You may wish to consider our VIP arrival option and be whisked past the queues of tourists who wait in line for their Visas with our fast-track visa and baggage collection process.

Afternoon:
In the afternoon you will have your first taste of the Angkor temples. Explore the sprawling labyrinth of Banteay Kdei with the Hall of the Dancing Girls. Then enjoy sunset drinks with a leisurely boat ride on the moat of Angkor Thom and view hidden elements of the ancient Khmer water systems, relaxing with G&T in hand and accompanied by the sound of bird song.

Day 2 - Temples of the Forest

Morning:
Rise early and beat the crowds at the photogenic Ta Prohm temple of "Tomb Raider" fame. Coordination with the driver allows you to wind your way through temple sites without having to retrace your steps. Undisturbed by crowds of tourists you can better appreciate the interplay of man and nature at this magical site. Following mid morning coffee at the temples walk through the forest to the seldom-visited Ta Nei temple before ending the morning on top Ta Keo, an imposing temple mountain with challenging steps.

Afternoon:
After lunch and perhaps a swim or massage, enter the ancient city of Angkor Thom at the Victory gate before uniquely walking along the 8m high wall through the forest to the seldom visited Death Gate. Passing behind the terraces of Elephants and Leper King walk though the shaded parkland to Phimeanakas and Baphuon temples, learning about the trees and fruits used locally. Impressive Bayon temple rounds off your afternoon with its iconic carved faces.

Day 3 - Angkor Wat Sunrise and Exploration

Morning:
You can opt for an early start for breath-taking sunrise exploration of Angkor Wat, one of mankind's architectural gems. Take advantage of the relative cool and tranquility of the morning to explore the central complex and surrounding bas-reliefs, taking either a local breakfast or returning to the hotel. Optionally you may feed the elephants with bananas for their breakfast.

Afternoon:
In the afternoon travel across ancient reservoirs (long since devoid of water), through pretty villages and rice paddies to the beautiful pink sandstone temple of Banteay Srei, well-known for its intricate carvings. On your way back to town, visit Banteay Samre. Take a walk along the old causeway and be welcomed by the stone lions and Naga balustrades, as the temple looms above.

Day 4 - Hunter/gatherers on Tonle Sap to earliest Angkor capital

Morning:
Travel by car through the Cambodian countryside to the photogenic village of Kompong Khleang (depending on the season). A world away from the touristic Chong Kneas floating villages, this largest stilted village in Cambodia sees few visitors. Climb up into a house to see how a subsistence fishing family lives. Then enjoy a private picnic lunch in your own stilted house.

Afternoon:
Drive on to explore the mysterious jungle-clad Beng Mealea thought to be a blueprint for Angkor Wat and built under the control of Suryavarman II. This temple is in a much collapsed state and is still largely overgrown by the jungle, creating an impressive atmospheric feel as a result- perfect for an afternoon photography session.

Day 5 - By road to Phnom Penh (optional alternative: flight)

Morning:
Explore the villages, markets and rural scenery along the road to Phnom Penh. Your driver will stop on request and at points of interest. Kompong Thom is a large and colorful market town, home of the Sambor Prei Kuk temple ruins; stop in Skuon to see (try?) the deep fried spiders.

Afternoon:
After checking in to your Phnom Penh hotel, relax and enjoy a private boat cruise on the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers to watch the sunset.

Day 6 - Khmer Rouge & Jewels of Phnom Penh

Morning:
A tough start to the day, with visits to the Choeung Ek Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng (S21) Prison, where only 7 survived from 1000s incarcerated. You will make more sense of modern Cambodia with a familiarity of the events of the late 1970s and how the country continues to recover from this tragedy.

Afternoon:
Continue to the Royal Palace built in 1866 by King Norodom, and the Silver Pagoda with the floor of over 5,000 silver tiles. Then head to the small hill within the city to see Wat Phnom and learn how the city got its name.

Day 7 - Cambodia to Laos

Depending on the time of your flight transfer, take a tuk tuk to explore local markets; Russian and Central Markets for typical souvenir shopping or visit the National Museum which houses the world's foremost collection of Khmer art and the surrounding shops of street 178 for a glimpse of the contemporary art scene, selling all kinds of painting, carving and sculpture.

Private transfer to your flight to Vientiane, Capital of the People's Democratic Republic of Laos.

Day 8 - Vientiane City Tour

Spend the morning exploring some of the the wats and pagodas of ancient Vientiane. Wat Sisaket is one of the small number that wasn't destroyed during the Thai invasion of 1827, and houses over 10,000 buddha images, many set in niches around the walls. Across the road from Sisaket is Wat Phra Keo, home to the Emerald Buddha before it was taken to Bangkok, where it is now on display. Those with an interest in textiles should also stop by Carol Cassidy's workshop.

After lunch we can visit the Patuxai monument, Laos' own "Arc de Triomphe" and the iconic That Luang stupa, national symbol of Laos that numbers a statue of Jayavarman VII among its antiquities - the Angkorian empire included much of Laos at its peak.

Day 9 - Markets and Transfer

Depending on your time of departure, it may be possible to visit the morning market, Talat Sao before your flight to Luang Prabang.

Arrive into Luang Prabang, and orientate yourself in the town before enjoying a dinner and traditional Laotian Baci Ceremony to welcome you to the Country, and wish you well on your travels.

Day 10 - Alms-giving and Waterfalls

Rise early to see one of the most arresting sights in Asia - the thousands of monks staying at the dozens of Pagodas of Luang Prabang processing through the streets to collect alms, a tradition that has been uniterrupted for centuries. After breakfast, walk through some of the streets and temples that make Luang Prabang such a magical place.

After lunch, take a trip to the Khouangsi falls, perhaps taking the opportunity for a swim in the pools below the falls. Khouangsi is also home to some protected Malayan Sun Bears.

Day 11 - Mekong and Mountains

Take a boat cruise along the might Mekong river, threading its way through the mountains North and East of Luang Prabang, arriving at the caves and shrines of Pak Ou, set in the mountain side at the confluence with the Nam Ou river.

Return via some of the villages that specialise in crafts such as jute paper making and the distilling of the infamous lao-Lao rice whiskey. If still feeling energetic, climb the steps to the top of Mount Phousi, and enjoy sunset.

Day 12 - Elephant Encounters

Travel to an Elephant Village outside of Luang Prabang, passing the grave of Henri Mouhot (the French "discoverer" of Angkor) along the way. Retired logging elephants are now taking tourists along the trails alongside the Nam Khan river - after meeting your elephant, enjoy the stunning scenery from her back. Optionally, you may combine this with a mountain bike or kayak journey back to Luang Prabang...

Day 13 - Departure

Relax after a full week, bfore your transfer to your onward flight.

Pricing

As part of your private, luxury itinerary, we personally visit and hand-pick the best hotels so that you can tour and relax in style. Uniquely, our hotel research is conducted on a room by room level, ensuring that within any given price category you'll get an excellent room.

We work with a wide-range of hotels so whilst you will find suggestions below, we are always happy to recommend alternatives as part of your own tailor-made quote. Simply click on the name of the hotel below for detailed hotel information.

Prices valid until September 2013

Cambodia Hotel	Laos Hotel	May-Sep (US$)	Oct-Apr (US$)
Amansara (suite), Raffles Le Royal (suite)	Amantaka (Suite), Settha Palace (Suite)	8151	8168
Raffles Grand Hotel, Raffles Le Royal	La Residence Phou Vao, Settha Palace	3883	4409
Hotel de la Paix, Sofitel Phokeethra Phnom Penh	Hotel de La Paix, Green Park	2917	3471
Victoria Angkor, Amanjaya Pancam	Kiridara, Ansara	2504	2927
Tara Angkor Boutique Hotel	Villa Santi resort, Salana Boutique	2124	2238

Different room categories may be requested.

Prices are per person, based on twin shared accommodation with breakfast, all taxes, touring & entry fees and transfers included, with an English speaking guide. No surcharges guaranteed. Additional low season may become available, and group rates may apply. All offers subject to availability.
Peak Season supplements may be applied at some hotels (typically over the Christmas and New Year period).
Our Terms and Conditions.

What's Included?

Transportation and transfers in private air-conditioned vehicle with dedicated driver or remorques as noted
Accommodation including all taxes and breakfast
Private boat tours (if applicable)
Expert local guide in language specified
Government tax and service charge
Luggage handling
Drinking water and refreshing towels for touring
24/7 support from the ABOUTAsia team

What's Excluded?

International air tickets to Cambodia/from Laos
Insurance of all kinds
Meals aside from those specifically included
Additional tour required beside specified sights
Tips, drinks, personal expenses

Travelling Alone?

We can arrange your individual personalized itinerary for Cambodia and Laos and recommend hotels. Contact us for a quote today.

Booking Information

To book your tour, we require email confirmation of a final itinerary a minimum of 10 days prior to arrival. We accept credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or cash payment (USD) on arrival for the total amount. If we book domestic flights for you as part of your itinerary, we will require a 1/3 deposit 1 month prior to your arrival. If you would like to pay by credit card, there is an additional 2.1% transaction charge we are required to add.

Similar Tours

Siem Reap & Luang Prabang:
Gems of Indochina

Details

Unearth the highlights of enchanting UNESCO listed sites in Siem Reap and Luang Prabang, with 4 days in Cambodia and 4 days in Laos, taking in remote Angkor temples and villages along the Mekong.

Siem Reap & Koh Kong:
Jungles and Temples

Details

Enjoy the outstanding temples of Angkor then travel further off the beaten-path with a luxurious stay at a jungle eco-lodge in the Cardamom Mountains to explore nature and swim in refreshing waterfalls.

Song Saa Private Island:
Temples and Beach Paradise

Details

Enjoy private luxury touring of the wonderful Angkor temples followed by relaxation on the idyllic, pristine retreat of Song Saa Private Island: the epitome of paradise.

Back to:
Cambodia Tours Home

Featured Tours

Siem Reap & Phnom
Penh (1 week)
Angkor Wat and
Siem Reap (4N)
Siem Reap & Luang
Prabang
Tonle Sap Circuit (10N)
2 Week Vacation

Longer journeys

Siem Reap & Song Saa
- Beach Luxury

5 nights in Siem Reap +
2N in Phnom Penh

Siem Reap, Battambang
& Phnom Penh (8N)

Siem Reap-Phnom Penh
Culture Tour (9N)

Short stays

Siem Reap 6D/5N
Siem Reap Adventure
Angkor Wat 4D/3N
3 nights in Siem Reap +
2N in Phnom Penh

Cambodia travel information and Angkor Wat tour specialists ABOUTAsia are based in Siem Reap just 4km from Angkor Wat. At the heart of the organisation is a guiding research centre providing Cambodia vacation advice and industry leading tours planning.

Peerless service standards and local positioning have made us the tour operator of choice by international luxury travel groups and discerning independent travellers to Angkor Wat, Cambodia and Southeast Asia.